{"title":"Maple Ridge watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"Yes. Stage 1 restrictions start automatically on May 1 each year and end October 15. Metro Vancouver declares Stages 2 to 4. In Maple Ridge in Stage 1, homes with even addresses may water lawns on Saturdays and odd addresses on Sundays. Lawn watering is prohibited in Stage 2 and above.","aliases":["sprinkling ban maple ridge","lawn watering days maple ridge","water restrictions stage 1","lawn watering permit maple ridge","report watering violation"],"cost":"Lawn Watering Permit for a new lawn: $30.90 for a single detached home.","how_long":"A new-lawn permit lasts 21 days and may be extended once, to at most 42 days.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Watering Regulations, City of Maple Ridge","value":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/water-sewer/waterworks/watering-regulations"},{"type":"online","label":"Report a concern","value":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/report"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"Bylaws@MapleRidge.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw, Licensing and Community Safety","value":"604-467-7305"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 7425-2018 (PDF)","url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018"},{"title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Amending Bylaw 8111-2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/maple-ridge-drinking-water-conservation-plan-amending-bylaw-8111-2026pdf"}],"related":[],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/water-restrictions/"}],"topic":{"title":"Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions/"},"facts":{"in_effect":{"label":"When restrictions apply","value":"Stage 1 restrictions start automatically on May 1 each year and end October 15 unless a stage is declared otherwise. Stages 2 to 4 are declared by Metro Vancouver (GVWD Commissioner) and take effect in the City 72 hours after the public announcement. No stage stays in force after October 15 unless the Commissioner declares it. The current stage is not stated in the pages read.","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to October 15; stricter by declaration","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.1, 3.2, 3.4","quotes":["If no Restriction Stage is in force on May 1st of any year, Stage 1 Restrictions come into force","comes into force in the City 72 hours after the GVWD","No Restriction Stage remains in force after October 15th of any year, unless the GVWD"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/water-sewer/waterworks/watering-regulations","title":"Watering Regulations, City of Maple Ridge (updated October 22, 2026)","section":"intro","quotes":["Water restrictions typically begin at Stage 1 on May 1, and extend to October 15, unless otherwise noted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1, homes: lawns may be watered on Saturdays for even-numbered civic addresses and Sundays for odd-numbered ones. Automatic (sprinkler system) watering 5 to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 to 9 a.m. In Stage 2 and above, lawn watering is prohibited.","short":"Stage 1: even Sat, odd Sun; no lawn watering Stage 2+","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 1, Stage 1 and 3","quotes":["Even-numbered civic addresses permitted on Saturdays:","Odd-numbered civic addresses permitted on Sundays:","Automatic watering from 5 am to 7 am","Manual watering from 6 am to 9 am"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/water-sewer/waterworks/watering-regulations","title":"Watering Regulations, City of Maple Ridge (updated October 22, 2026)","section":"Stage 2","quotes":["| Residential | Watering Lawns | Prohibited"]},{"url":"https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions","title":"Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver","section":"Stage 1","quotes":["- Residential lawn watering allowed: Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays Automatic watering: 5:00 am - 7:00 am","Residential lawn watering allowed: Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays Automatic watering: 5:00 am - 7:00 am Manual watering: 6:00 am - 9:00 am"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Edible plants (vegetables, herbs, berries) may be watered at any time in every stage; the bylaw schedule says so for Stage 4, though the City page says all activities are prohibited in Stage 4. Trees, shrubs and flowers: sprinkler any day 5 to 9 a.m. (Stages 1 and 2); handheld hose, container or drip irrigation any time, plus soaker hose in Stages 1 and 2; prohibited in Stage 4.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 1, Stage 1 and 3","quotes":["Watering edible plants. No restriction. At any time.","On any day from 5 am to 9 am if using a sprinkler","On any day at any time if using a handheld hose,","soaker hose, water container, or drip irrigation","Watering trees, shrubs, and flowers. Prohibited."]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/water-sewer/waterworks/watering-regulations","title":"Watering Regulations, City of Maple Ridge (updated October 22, 2026)","section":"Stage 4","quotes":["All activities prohibited in Emergency Stage 4."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Drip irrigation is excluded from the bylaw's definition of 'Watering' (s. 2.1). Hoses must have an automatic shut-off device (s. 6.1)."},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"A 'Lawn Watering Permit - New Lawn' (new sod, seed or landscaping) or 'Natural Pest Control' (nematodes for chafer beetle) lets you water outside the restricted times. The new-lawn permit lasts 21 days and may be extended once, to at most 42 days. $30.90 for a single detached home. No new permits in Stage 2; permits are void in Stage 3.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","section":"Part 5, s. 5.1, 5.5-5.7","quotes":["may apply to the Engineer for a 'Lawn Watering Permit - New Lawn'","shall expire and be of no force or effect 21 days","such extension shall end on or before 42 days from the date of issue","must not be issued, renewed, or extended;"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/fees-charges-consolidated-bylaw-no-7575-2019","title":"Fees and Charges (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7575-2019 (PDF)","section":"Watering and Sprinkling Fees","quotes":["Newly Seeded Lawns or Landscaping sprinkling permit for single detached $30.90"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $250 ($200 early, $300 late) for hose, runoff and Part 1 watering offences; $450 ($400, $500) for Part 2 watering. Municipal ticket: $250 for the general rules; watering $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 (Parts 1 to 4). The City says fines start at $450 in Stage 2 and are $750 in Stage 3. Court: $3,000 to $10,000.","short":"Notice $250 ($200 early); ticket $250","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidated-bylaw-no-7626-2020","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7626-2020 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Part 11","quotes":["Unauthorized Watering $250 $200 $300 No","Unauthorized Watering $450 $400 $500 No","7425-2018 6.1 No automatic shut off device $250 $200 $300 No"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/ticket-information-utilization-bylaw-no-6929-2012-consolidated","title":"Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 6929-2012 (Consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Schedule 7","quotes":["Unauthorized Watering Schedule 1, Part 1 $250","Unauthorized Watering Schedule 1, Part 4 $1000"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","section":"s. 7.6","quotes":["not more than $10,000 and not less than $3,000"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/water-sewer/waterworks/watering-regulations","title":"Watering Regulations, City of Maple Ridge (updated October 22, 2026)","section":"Enforcement & Compliance","quotes":["During Stage 3, no further warnings will be provided and fines for non-compliance are $750 per offence"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Maple Ridge Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (amended by Nos. 7831-2022, 8068-2025 and 8111-2026); stages are declared by Metro Vancouver","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","section":"citation","quotes":["Maple Ridge Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-","2. Maple Ridge Drinking Water Conservation Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7831-2022"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018), Stage 1 restrictions start automatically on May 1 each year and end October 15 unless a stage is declared otherwise. Stages 2 to 4 are declared by Metro Vancouver (GVWD Commissioner) and take effect in the City 72 hours after the public announcement. No stage stays in force after October 15 unless the Commissioner declares it. The Engineer may also impose extra temporary restrictions. Check the City's Watering Regulations page for the stage now in effect.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Stage 1, homes: lawns may be watered on Saturdays for even-numbered civic addresses and Sundays for odd-numbered ones. Automatic (sprinkler system) watering is 5 to 7 a.m.; manual watering is 6 to 9 a.m. Lawn watering is prohibited in Stages 2, 3 and 4.\n- Non-residential properties and mixed-use buildings follow different days: even addresses Monday, odd Tuesday; automatic watering 4 to 6 a.m.\n- Edible plants (vegetables, herbs, berries) may be watered at any time in every stage, according to the bylaw schedule, including Stage 4. The City page says all activities are prohibited in Stage 4, so confirm with the City.\n- Trees, shrubs and flowers: sprinkler any day 5 to 9 a.m. (Stages 1 and 2); handheld hose, container or drip irrigation any time, plus soaker hose in Stages 1 and 2; prohibited in Stage 4. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.\n- New lawn: a \"Lawn Watering Permit - New Lawn\" (new sod, seed or landscaping) lets you water outside the restricted times. It costs $30.90 for a single detached home, plus $30.90 for each dwelling unit in a multiple residential development, to a maximum of $154.50. No new permits in Stage 2; permits are void in Stage 3. A \"Natural Pest Control\" permit (nematodes for chafer beetle) cannot be renewed.\n- Fines: a bylaw notice is $250 ($200 early, $300 late) for hose, runoff and Part 1 watering offences, and $450 ($400, $500) for Part 2 watering. A municipal ticket is $250 for the general rules and $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 for watering (Parts 1 to 4). The City says fines start at $450 in Stage 2 and are $750 in Stage 3. In court: $3,000 to $10,000.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/drinking-water-conservation-plan-bylaw-no-7425-2018","title":"Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 7425-2018 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/water-sewer/waterworks/watering-regulations","title":"Watering Regulations, City of Maple Ridge (updated October 22, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions","title":"Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/fees-charges-consolidated-bylaw-no-7575-2019","title":"Fees and Charges (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7575-2019 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidated-bylaw-no-7626-2020","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7626-2020 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/ticket-information-utilization-bylaw-no-6929-2012-consolidated","title":"Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 6929-2012 (Consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/water-restrictions.json"}}